Casinos seeing high worker turnover

posted by WTVN Newsroom
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3 years ago

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN) -- State records show that nearly one out of every three workers at two of Ohio's casinos have either quit or been fired.

Overall, the turnover rate at the state's four casinos is about 18 percent.

A report in the Cleveland Plain Dealer found that Hollywood Casino in Toledo has a 35 percent turnover rate, while Hollywood Casino in Columbus shows a 30 percent turnover in employees. Both of those casinos are operated by Penn National Gaming.

Cincinnati's Horseshoe opened just 5 1/2 months ago. Since then only about 4 percent have departed. The state has licensed 2,179 employees through Cleveland's Horseshoe Casino, which opened in mid-May 2012. Records indicate about 10 percent are now gone.

"Casinos tend to have a higher turnover rate than hospitality in general which also is a higher turnover rate than the U.S. job market in general," said David Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Schwartz says the turnover numbers in Ohio are actually lower than he sees in other areas of the country.

"It can range from 40 to 50 percent depending on the market," he said.

Shift work and the demands of dealing with people, many of whom are upset about losing money, can take their toll on people. Schwartz says they are the main reasons many leave the business.

Schwartz thinks casinos could do a better job of training employees to have a better idea of what to expect.

"I think good supervision is also a big part of it. Keeping people motivated, keeping people happy, creating a work environment where people don't mind coming during those off hours," said Schwartz.